No longer a virgin!!!!!

This is my 1st post on 3reef and my first attempt at an aquarium! I recently bought a 55gallon tank (Establish 3/3/09) in hopes of one day have my very own reef. Let me tell you it was a shocker to see the startup costs of this hobby. Its hasn't scared me away yet but.... As of now I have 2 pieces of live rock (Slowly picking out pieces that I like as they come in the LFS!). 5 damsels and CC for my base. I am running a Marineland C-360 canister w/ a 400watt heater. I have some cheap digital thermometer and a stick on one just in case it fails. For lighting I have an 48" Odyssea 760watt (Metal Halide, Actinic Blue Compacts w/ Blue LED's). Oh, yeah I have 2 Red Craw Hermit Crabs, 2 Blue Leg Hermit Crabs and 2 Nerite Snails. I bought them because I was running my halides too soon and has some brown algae look stuff (Got really bad)!
I have made some mistakes such as being impatient, spilling water everywhere, etc... I do have the following questions hopefully you guys can help!!!

-I have an extra 300watt heater, is it worth having two in the tank?

-How much can the water temperature change and what is the ideal temp?

-Hang on refugiums (Yes or No?)

-Uv Sterilizer, I was thinking 9watt but someone said its bad for a reef aquaium?

-OH YEAH HOW DO I PUT A SIGNATURE AT THE BOTTOM DESCRIBING MY TANK?

 

Welcome! New tanks are exciting...
As for your questions, you will get some short answers on this board as it is the introduction board for saying hello. Please split up your questions and ask them on the appropriate boards for the subject and you will get detailed responses.

As for your sig, please check out the FAQ:
3reef Forums - FAQ

Good call with the halide lamp!

 

welcome to 3reef!!!!

 

Welcome....!!

 

Welcome!!

 

Welcome!! you are in the right place.

 

Welcome to 3reef.

You shouldn't need a UV filter. I bought one early on when I was having a lot of trouble and my water was the color of mountain dew. I bought the UV filter so I could kill the algae bloom in the water, but thanks to this forum I tracked down what was causing the green water and fixed the problem. I still keep the UV in case I have to battle ick. (there is debate about its effectiveness at killing ick, but I figured it couldn't hurt since I already have it)

Are the heaters digital and shut off when they reach the right temp? IT would be good to have two heaters in case one fails, but not if it is going to turn your tank into stew.

 

good job on th elighting most people like me try to skimp and lose in th elong run...welcome to the reef and you have a good start going there......take one of the heaters out and keep it in the cabinet for a stand by...the 300 watt is okay...but a 200 is all the tank reallt needs...

 

welcome!